Aviation Photographs
In the late 1940s, Allan Janus considered the possibility of opening an aviation museum and began acquiring surplus military aircraft and artifacts for pennies on the dollar. Later sales of de-accessioned museum pieces to Latin-American dictators with an interest in aviation history were mis-interpreted by the IRS, and Janus was forced to disband the collection. However, for a brief shining moment, Washington Grove had one of the largest air forces in Montgomery County, Maryland. These photographs are now all that remains.
Unidentified man with Kiddo, mascot of the airship America
Silver print photograph, photographer unknown, 1910.
To view a curiously similar photograph, and to read a fuller account of Kiddo's adventures, visit another leading museum.
First flight of a dog and cat in Washington Grove, Maryland. Fred Wallingford (1875-1911), chief pilot of the Washington Grove Wesleyan Aerial Transportation Company, poses before the historic flight with "Baron" and "Zagnut" in the cockpit of the Monocacy Flier, a Moisant-built Bleriot 11, May 9, 1911. Take-off from the Athletic Field, Washington Grove, landing in Buckeystown, Maryland, 55 minutes later. This was also the first flight, with or without pets, to cross the Monocacy River.
Fred Wallingford in a mockup of the Monocacy Flier, after the historic Washington Grove - Buckeystown flight. Wallingford's Bleriot had been seized by creditors moments after landing in Buckeystown. The mockup was built in a vain attempt to attract further investment in the Washington Grove Wesleyan Aerial Transportation Company.
Fred Wallingford in the uncompleted Wallingford Heliocopter, c.1912
Photograph by Allan Janus
Lothar von Wallingsfurt
Photogravure Sanke postcard, photographer unknown
One of the lesser-known aces of WWI was Lothar von Wallingsfurt, known
to friend and foe alike as the Sepia Baron. Little is known of his
career, save his ill-starred attempt in 1915 to fit out
Parseval-Sigsfeld observation balloons for use as fighter interceptors.
Following the bloody debacle of the Parsevals' one
operational sortie, Wallingsfurt was seconded to the Kriegsmarine, where
he persuaded the chiefs of the Naval Airship Service to use zeppelins
for psychological warfare, also inventing, at the same time, the concept
of lighted blimp advertising. Unfortunately, when the L.49 cruised over
London on its first raid in 1917, terror turned to laughter when
Wallingsfurt's message, "VY NOT GIF UP NOW?" lit up the side of the
mighty airship. Tragically, the primitive lighting system soon shorted
out and ignited the ship's hydrogen (or the doped fabric of the airship
envelope - opinions vary). Luckily, Wallingsfurt was not on board at the
time. He was transferred to the German Secret Service and served in
Zurich, where he attempted to persuade Vladimir Ilyich Lenin to travel
to Petrograd in a Gross-Basenach M-series airship, rather than the
famous sealed train. Back in the Air Service, Wallingsfurt proposed a
massive bombing plane that would also carry a swarm of tiny fighters, to
be released when threatened by interception. The mother plane would also
serve as a tanker for the small fighters. On the only test flight,
though, it became quickly apparent that the fuel hoses were improperly
placed in front of the pusher propellers. The ensuing conflagration
destroyed the Mutter-Fokker and its swarm of escorts. Wallingsfurt was
then transferred to the Army, which tried to transfer him to the French
Army. When that failed, the German Army surrendered.
It should be noted that although Wallingsfurt is an ace, he never
actually shot down any enemy aircraft - he was declared an ace by the
Allies for his contribution to the war effort. His "Pour le Merite"
order - "the Blue Max", plainly visible in this photograph - is on a choke-chain.
Listen to The Flight of Lothar von Wallingsfurt by Michael J. Starke
Über London
An Artist's Impression of Zeppelin L.49 over London, 1917,
with inset portrait of Lothar von Wallingsfurt.
Lithographic Postcard, 1917
Anonymous Gift, 1999
David "Wild Dave" Wallingford, airmail pilot, c.1920
Silver print photograph, photographer unknown
Unidentified pilot with Irvin the lion cub, c.1930
Silver print photograph, photographer unknown
Irvin the Lion, beloved mascot of "The Golden Age of Aviation" was a popular figure at air races until his forced retirement in 1935, after a friendly wrestling match with Charles Lindbergh sent "The Lone Eagle" to the hospital. Stuffed, Irvin now resides at The Janus Museum.
Chet Wallingford in the Wallingford Improved Flight Trainer, 1942
The armed forces of the United States rapidly expanded in the months following Pearl Harbor. Pilots, especially, needed to be trained in large numbers. Stepping forward to aid the effort was Chet Wallingford, manufacturer of amusement park and carnival rides. After a demonstration of his Improved Flight Trainer, the Army Air Forces planned to purchase large numbers until the Link Company, builders of the famous Link Trainer, pointed out certain superficial similarities between Wallingford's Trainer and the Link. Tragically, the deal with the Government was off. But after being fitted with a coin slot, the Improved Flight Trainer saw much service outside the Norbeck Grocery Store of Washington Grove. The Wallingford Trainer is now part of the collections of The Janus Museum.
Unidentified fighter pilot, Eighth Air Force, 1944
Silver print photograph, U.S. Army Air Forces
Crew of Enola Gay, Tinian, 1945
Silver print photograph, U.S. Army Air Forces
The crewman in the center of the photograph has not been identified, and was not part of the crew on the Hiroshima mission, August 6, 1945. Attempts to link this figure with the well-known but unconfirmed stories of a crewman who went mad following the flight have not been successful. Perhaps he could be a crewman who went insane before the mission? The Janus Museum would welcome a generous contribution to further investigate the puzzle.
